The five executive directors of Kerry Group, managing director Mr Denis Brosnan, deputy managing directors Mr Hugh Friel and Mr Denis Cregan, Mr Jerry Houlihan and Mr Michael Griffin, shared total remuneration of just over £2 million last year, an increase of 45 per cent on the 1996 package.

The main factor in the big increase in remuneration was a jump in performance-related payments from £529,000 to £925,000. Salaries for the five executives rose from £802,000 to £927,000, benefits-in-kind from £40,000 to £64,000 while pension contributions rose from £40,000 to £64,000.